# Establishing a sound material-cycle society

—Creating economic development through the establishment of a sound material-cycle society—

Section 1. A new economic style based on the 3Rs (3Rs: Reduction, Reuse and Recycling)

Increasing demands for our world’s remaining natural resources have made it clear that Japan must work more closely with other nations to move for the establishment of a sound material-cycle society. It is evident that the present conventional style of mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal of goods and materials employed by society is the direct cause of the exhaustion of natural resources centered on fossil fuels, global warming issues caused by Greenhouse gas, the destruction of nature by large scale extraction of resources and the inhibition of the natural material circulation found in nature. Each issue is creating serious problems at many levels and is fueling a vicious cycle of degradation.

Based on the current situation, it has become a pressing issue to realize the establishment of a sound material-cycle society, both nationally and internationally and to aim for the decreased consumption of natural resources and the reduction of environmental burden, with a focus on the construction of an everlasting and sustainable society; an inte-

### 1. Looking to Year 2015

In Japan, in order to establish a sound material-cycle society, the relative policies have been comprehensively developed based on the Second Fundamental Plan for Establishing a sound material-cycle society. In this plan, several numerical targets are set and progress is assessed every year, with the target year of the plan being Year 2015. (See Table 1-1: Numerical targets (Material flow indicator) of Year 2015 in the Second Fundamental Plan for Establishing a sound material-Cycle Society. See also Table 1-2: Numerical targets (effort indices).) In Japan, Year 2015 can, therefore, be regarded as a “milestone” in the establishment of a sound material-cycle society. Although many indicators are showing good progress towards achievement of the Year 2015 goal, an optimistic outlook cannot be taken when considering the present domestic and international economic situations.

Moreover, the results of a questionnaire survey show that, although the level of people’s awareness concerning a sound material-cycle society is high, only a small number of people are actually taking concrete action. (See Table 1-3: Results on a Questionnaire Survey on the Construction gration of the commitment to aim for a low carbon society and harmonious coexistence with the natural world.

For example, in January 2008 Japan proposed a “Cool Earth Partnership” with a target of cutting by half the amount of carbon dioxide presently discharged around the world by Year 2050. To share this target, Japan set itself a long term target to reduce its own present carbon discharge by 60% to 80% before 2050, and aims to attain a low carbon society that can encourage the world to attain this target. When creating such a low carbon society, a new point of view will be required in order to construct a sound material-cycle society; existing socioeconomic activity must be transformed, which includes the prevention of exhaustion of natural resources by reducing the generation of wastes through all the steps of socioeconomic activities, from resources extraction, production, distribution, consumption to disposal or to use circulative resources, so as to reduce the environmental load to the greatest extent possible.

of a sound material-cycle society.) The accomplishment of the goal of Year 2015 must be made as secure as possible, not only by letting participants take the initiative in what they can achieve through their own originality and mental attitude, but also by the expansion and establishment of a sound material-cycle society through the integration of a sound material-cycle society coupled with economic development.

Concerning the expansion and establishment of a sound material-cycle society, the “Significance of a sound material-cycle society” will be reaffirmed first of all in the following statements, as it is inevitable to promote the understanding of the necessity for construction of a sound material-cycle society by participants forming a sound material-cycle society. Then, in the next paragraph of “For Integration of a sound material-cycle society and Economic Development,” an overview will be presented on the concrete actions required for each participant, construction of a sound material-cycle society and concrete tackling for achievement of economic growth.